The Bluebirds have agreed a new partnership with an innovative well-being group to help link fans to support with issues such as mental health, weight, health and loneliness.
Barrow AFC is working with It Starts Monday, a movement created by former Premier League footballer Curtis Woodhouse in January 2021 when he and four others teamed up to help each other stay motivated to lose some weight during lockdown.
Woodhouse played over 350 games as a professional, including three in the Premier League with Birmingham City, and was capped four times by England at Under-21’s level.
His list of clubs include Sheffield Utd, Rotherham, Peterborough, Hull City, Grimsby Town and Mansfield Town as well as a number in non-League. He managed six non-league clubs, latterly last year at Gainsborough Trinity.
At one point he fell out of love with football and turned to boxing, with success as he went on to become British light welter-weight champion. His 29 fights included 22 wins, 13 of them by knock-outs.
The growth of his lockdown efforts has been astonishing, and now It Starts Monday boasts just under 5,000 members and 14 staff, with members spread right across the United Kingdom.
Each of the groups has 50 members, all different shapes and sizes but all with a common goal – to be the best version of themselves possible in mind, both and soul.
Dedicated personal trainers deliver expert advice on fitness and nutrition to each group, providing live workouts three times a week alongside weekly fitness challenges and goals.
It Starts Monday also has beginners, intermediates and advanced options to ensure that everybody can become involved whether they walking for exercise, running 10k or anything in between.
The link-up with Barrow AFC is the latest in a long line of collaborations for the wellbeing group, with connections already established with Leeds United stars Kalvin Phillips, Stuart Dallas and Liam Cooper who have become It Starts Monday ambassadors.
Television presenter Jeff Brazier is also on board; a fully qualified NLP practitioner, he has been hosting workshops on a variety of topics to do with mental health to get dialogue opened within the groups.
Barrow fans who join It Starts Monday will have the opportunity to link with some current players as they get involved to help maintain motivation and set some challenges along the way.
Barrow general manager, Alisha Henry said: “This is a really exciting link-up for the club and we’re really pleased to be working in partnership with It Starts Monday.
“Mental health, fitness and general wellbeing has become an even bigger discussion throughout the pandemic with people all around the world being affected in many different ways.
“It Starts Monday will offer Barrow fans the opportunity to focus on themselves and their own wellbeing in a truly innovative way among like-minded people.”
A monthly subscription costs just £15 but that entitles members to all the perks of joining a group and with the added knowledge that the money going into It Starts Monday will also be helping local good causes too.
“The profits raised from the groups go back into the community so what we’re offering really is a double-barrelled support network,” explained Woodhouse.
“We want to help independent charities in the areas we have It Starts Monday projects running, and I think what we can do in Barrow is potentially very special and can leave a lasting impact within the town.
“Every month we can help with local concerns that are important to our members, be that Foodbanks, homeless charities, the elderly – we love being guided by members, so they have an active interest in where their membership fee is going.”
